Method and means for grooving closure gaskets



H. E. STOVER Feb. 16, 1960 METHOD AND MEANS FOR GROOVING CLOSURE GASKETS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 28, 1956 ha l R o T N E v m flurry 1?. Sim/er ATTO R N EY Feb. 16, 1960 H. E. sTovER 2,924,848

METHOD AND MEANS FOR GROOVING CLOSURE GASKETS Filed March 2a, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1 7 6' Siam?!" WWWJMMWA ATTORNEY Feb. 16, 1960 H. E. STOVER METHOD AND MEANS FOKGROOVING CLOSURE GASKETS Filed March 28, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR llarrq 7 Sim/er BY ATTOQNEY Feb. 16, 1960 H. E. STOVER 2, 2 8

METHOD AND MEANS FOR GROOVING CLOSURE GASKETS Filed March 28, 1956 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 V V BY M w V ATTORNEY Feb. 16, 1960 H. E. STOVER 2,924,848

METHOD AND MEANS FOR GROOVING CLOSURE GASKETS Filed March 28, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR Harry E Sim/er A FRNEY Feb. 16, 1960 H. E. STOVER METHOD AND MEANS FOR GROOVING CLOSURE GASKETS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 28, 1956 INVENTOR flarr [2' 6701/41 A RNEY I 2,924,848 METHOD AND MEANS FOR GROGVING CLOSURE GASKETS Harry E. Stover, Lancaster, Ohio, assignor to Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation, Lancaster, Gino, a corporation of Delaware Application March 28 1956, Serial No. 574,501

7 8 Claims. (Cl. 18--5) and Method of Making, filed in the United States Patent- Oifice on December 14, 1953, now Patent No. 2,772,013. In the present improved machine and method a metal shell is finst'lined with a rubber or similar composition gasket over at least the inner side of the skirt and prior to the vulcanization of the gasket a groove is rolled in the gasket for cooperating with the finish on a glass containerto form a secure sealing. After the forming, of

the groove in thefgasket, the gasket material is preferably vulcanized to cause the groove to retain its shape until it conforms in part to the glass finish in the sealing operation.

The improved machine forms the grooves in a continuou's'op'eration at a high speed'with the accuracy and uniformity conforming to the standards required in forming seals on glass containers with high speed sealing machines.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved method and means for making closures having a groove in the gasket thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an. im proved method and machine for forming grooves in a closure gasket; I

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and machine for forming grooves in closure gaskets at high speeds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and means for forming grooves in closure gaskets with great precision and close tolerances.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and means for foriningi grooves in closures which is relatively simple and reliable.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and means for forming grooves in closure gaskets which is automatic in its operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and means for forming grooves in gaskets which is adjustable to provide a variety of groove shapes.

'Another object of. the present invention is to provide a method and means for forming grooves in closures which is adaptable for usewi'th a variety of closure shapes .and sizes.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodihas beenaazas is Patented Feb. is, less 2. is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein: e V

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the machine of the invention;

Fig.2 is about elevational view in section of the upper portion of the machine of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view in'section taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2; r

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a closure holder taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the rotating table showing one of the closure holder carnages;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a closure and the grooving wheel before the grooving action;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 6 showing the gasket Being grooved by the grooving wheel;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 7 showing the gasket shape after the grooving generally with particular reference to Figs; 1, 2, and 3.

Closures 1, having gaskets therein. which are to be grooved, are fed into the grooving apparatus 2 by chute 3 (Fig. 3') in a continuous line from a suitable conveyor or other closure handling means (not shown). Closures 1 pass from chute 3 intd a rotating star wheel 4 which slides the closures around the supportplate 5 into a suitable position indicated at 6 above one of the closure holders 7, a plurality of which are mounted in a rotating table 8. Rotating table 8 is rotated in cooperation and synchronization with the star Wheel 4 to present a closure holder '7 at position 6 at the same time that the star wheel 4 moves a closure 1 into this position above a closure holder 7 so that the closure 1 drops into a pocket 9 in the closure holder 7.

Rotating table 8 isrotatably mounted on a stationary vertical shaft 11) (Fig. 2) on the base 13 of the grooving apparatus 2 and is rotated about. the vertical shaft 10 by a suitable drive means 11 so that the closures 1 are carried in pockets 9 of closure holders 7 in.a circular path'around the shaft 19 frozntheloading point 610 a discharge chute :12. A groover 14 ismounted above which is moved downwardly'into the closure 1 seated in the pocket 9 of closure holder 7 beneath the groover' 14 to former groove in the gasket of the'closure 1 as the closure 1 is moved between the closur e loading point 6 and the discharge chute 12. The details ofrthe closure holders- 7 and the groovers 14 will be described under appropriate headings "below. t V [The grooving action o'fg'rooving" wheel 15 isshown in Figs. 6,; 7 and 8. Both the closure 1 and thegrooving wheel 15 are continuously rotated about a vertical axis through their centers at. thes ame rate andin the" same direction by the closure holder 7 and the groover 14, re spectively. The rotating grooving wheel 15 is'first moved downwardly within the closure 1 by the downward motion the grooving wheel 15 are rotating at the same speed and direction and as the radius of the grooving flange is approximately equal to the distance of the inner surface of the gasket 17 from the center of the clo'sure, a rolling contact will occur between the grooving flange 16 and the V closure gasket I7 rolling a groove 18 in surface 19 of the closure gasket 17. The depth of penetration of the grooving flange 16 into the closure gasket 17 is controlled by the radial motion of the closure holder 7 on the rotating tables as will be explained more fully below. 4

After the grooving wheel has passed one or more times around the closure skirt gasket, as desired, to completely form the groove 18, the closure 1 is moved radially outwardly on the rotating table 8 by the closure holder 7 to disengage the grooving flange 16 from the closure skirt gasket 17. The final groove shape as seen in Fig. 8 differslfrom the shape of grooving flange 16 as the gasket material decompresses and reshapes 'itself slightly after the'rernoval of the groover. The shape of the flange 16 is designed to take this change into account 7 to provide a final groove shape as desired. v

After being moved away from the gasket 17 the grooving wheel 15 is raised vertically clear of the closure 1 'by the gro'over 14' so that th'e'closure' 1 may be ejected 7 from the grooving apparatus 2.

Rotating table and closure holders The rotating table 8, as described above, mounts a plurality of closure holders 7 and carriesthem through a circular path about the vertical shaft 10 while the gro'oving operation is beingperformed on closures 1 held in closure holders 7. Rotating tables is' rotatably mounted on hearing 22 on the stationary vertical shaft 10, which is fitted into a mounting plate 21 attached to the top of the base 13. .The rotating table 8 is supported vertically by a thrust bearing 23 positioned about the vertical shaft 10 and seated on the upper surface 24 of the shaft mounting plate 21. Rotating table 8 is rotated about the vertical shaft 10 by means of a ring gear 25 which is bolted Y 4 1 holders 7 in the rotating table 8 to provide the abovedescribed inward and outward radial motion of the closure holder 7 at the beginning and end of the grooving action is controlled by a cam system. The cam system comprises a circular groove depth cam (Figs. 2 and 3) fixedly mounted on the grooving apparatus base 13 surrounding the rotating table 8 and a cam' follower 41 on the chuck' carriage 31 of the closure holder'7 which engages the circular cam 40. Cam follower 41 is rotat ably mounted in an end flange 42 (Fig. 5) of the chuck carriage 31. The cam follower 41 is urged radially outwardly against'the circular cam 40 by a compressed spring 44 having one end bearing against the inner end of the chuck carriage 31 and its other end seated in a radially directed aperture 46 in table 8 at the end of slot 34.

The circular cam 40 is preferably formed of superimposed top and bottom portions 40a (Fig. 9) and 40!: (Fig. 10). Generally co-extensive raised portions 43a and 43b, respectively, are provided on each portion, and the top portion 49a has elongated slots 43:: for its fastening nuts to allow therelative positions of the raised portions 43a and 43b to beadjusted to lengthen the rolling period that the cam follower 41 moves the closure holder inwardly to hold the closure gasket 17 against the groove rol1er'15. Thus, as seen in Fig. 1, the upper portion 46a of the cam 40 has been rotated counterclockwise with respect to the lower portion 40b to thereby lengthen the time that the closure holder 7 is in its inward o grooving position on revolving table 8. The rotatable chuck 30, one of which is mounted in each chuck carriage 31 to hold and rotate the closures 1 during the grooving action, comprise an upper closure seating portion 47 (Fig.2) and alower shaft portion 48 which is rotatably. mounted in the chuck carriage by suitable bearings 49. The drive means to rotate the chuck 30 comprises a drive gear splined to the lower end of the shaft 48 and fastened vthereon by nuts 51. Drive gear 50 engages a fixed ring gear 52'rnounted on the shaft by bolts 26 to flanged edge 27 of the table 8. This ring in accordance with the requirements of a particular jmaw chine and more or less may be used. Each of the closure holders? comprises a rotatable closure chuck 30 (Fig. 4

which holds the closures during the grooving operation and a chuck carriage 31 which rotatably mounts the chuck 30 on-table 8. In order to mount the closure holders 7 so that they may be moved in a radial direction with respect to the rotating table 8, a radially directed slot 34 is formed in the rotating table 8 for each of the eight closure holders 7 (Figs. 4 and 5). At the two opposite upper edges of each slot 34 a'flange seat 35 is cut to receive the two' flanges 36 formed on the opposite sides 37 of the chuck carriages 31 of the closure holders 7. Beneath each slot 34a suitable aperture 38 is formed to pass the lower portionof the closure chuckfill. The flanges 36 of the chuck carriages '31 are slidably'held in position against the flange seat 35 by triangular guide plates 39 which are bolted to the top of the rotating table I mounting, plate 21 by bolts 54. I As the table 8 rotates aroundvertical shaft 10, the drive gear 50 is engaged by and is rotated in bearings 49 by ring gear 52 so that the chuck 30 is rotated. at -a-rate which is amultiple of the rotational rate of the revolving table8.

' The closure seating portion 47 of chuck 30. comprises a fixed flange 55 and a removable flange 56 which is attached to fixed flange 55 by suitable bolts 58 and which maybe changed as desired to accommodate closures of different shapes. A lift plate seat 60 is slidably fitted into [removable flange'56 at thebottom of po'cket9. The lift plate is removably attached to a lift rod 61 which is slidably fitted into a vertical aperture 62 through the shaft portion 48 of chuck 30. The lift plateloll is normally in a recessed position to allow a closure 1.to be seated thereon in pocket 9. After the grooving action which forms the groove in the closure gasket 17, lift plate seat 60 is raised by lift rod 61 to lift the closure 1 out of pocket 9 for ejection from the grooving apparatus 1. The vertical position of lift rod61 is controlled by a circular lift rod cam 62 mounted on the base 13 beneath the lift rod 61 and incontact with cam follower 630m the bottom of'the lift rod 61. A spring'64 around'lift rod 61 and compressed between the shaftportion 48 of the chuck 3b and thecam follower 6'3 urges thelift rod downwardly against the cam surface 65 0f the lift rod cam 62. The

cam surface 65 has a suitable upward slope 66 (Fig. 4) at the ejection position to raise the lift rod 61 to thereby raise the'lift plate 68 and closure 1 from chuck pocket 9 to allow the closure 1 to-be forced from'chuck 30at discharge chute12. I

. Atop plate 67 is mounted on the t'op of rotating table 8 by suitable spacers 68 to provide a smooth surface level with plate 5 to support the closures 1 on a level with the top of the closure holder'.7 as star wheel 4 moves them over" pocket 9.at leading position 6 and to provide a level surface adjacent the discharge chute 12.

Gmov'ers Thus, inxthe embodiment showndin the drawing; eight groovers. 14 are mounted around. the circumferenceof a circular groover support 13. which is" rotatablymounted .ona bearing 71 (Fig. 2) on.therstationary vertical:shaft 10. Spacer rod72, suitably'fastened-to the revolving table 8 and to the groover support 13, holds the groover support 13 in spaced relation with revolving table '8 and beneath spacer nut 70 and causesittorotate in synchronism therewith as the revolving table 8is rotated about the vertical shaft 10. V

Each of the groovers? 14 comprises a collar 74'fastened in aperture 75 in groover support 13 between a shoulder 76 and a nut 77. The collar 74 has avertical aperture -79 therein adapted toslidably mount a groover wheel support 78 in bearings 80. In a center aperture 81, rotatably mounted onbearings 82 isa grooving wheel shaft 84 which mounts grooving wheel 15 on its lower end. A grooving wheel drive gear 85 is attachedrby'nut 83 to the upper end of the grooving wheel shaft 84 which engages afixecl horizontal gear 86 fixedly mounted on the vertical shaft 10. Fixed gear 86 is. held in place on the vertical shaft between collar 87 and a lock-nut 88. As the groover support 13 is rotatedabout the vertical shaft 10 in synchronism with the revolving table 8, the grooving .wheel drive gear 85 meshes with the fixed gear 86 on the vertical shaft 10 androtatesthe grooving wheel shaft 84 at arate which is a multiple ofthe turning rate of the revolving tableS. The grooving wheel drive gear 85 is proportioned with respect to fixed gear 86 so that the grooving wheel shaft 84 and its attached grooving wheel il5rotate at approximately the .samerate asthe-chuck 30 to provide the above-described rolling grooving action when the grooving wheel has beenmoved against the ,closure gasket 17 .ofclosure 1. .In order to move the support'78 with its rotatably attached grooving wheel 15 downwardly with relation to the collar 74 and the chuck 30,- a grooving Wheel cam s-ystemis mounted on the upper end of vertical shaftltl.

The cam system comprises a circular grooving wheel cam plate 89 attached by nut 90 to. a threaded portion 91 at the upper end of the vertical shaft 10. and a circular groovingwheel'cam 92 bolted to the lower surface of the grooving .wheel cam plate 89 adjacent its outer edge. A grooving wheelcamfollower 93 is rotatably mounted on. the. uppenend of a cam follower rod 94'whichhas its lower. endattacherl tothe grooving wheel support 78 so that the,groovingwheelsupport 78 is positioned vertically insaccordancetwiththe position ofthe camfollower 93 on,;the grooving wheelcatn 92 as the cam follower 93 rollswalo ng the camsurface 95 ofwthe grooving wheel cam 92. Thelgrooving wheeladrive gear.85 has relatively long teeth .96 (Big. 2);to.allow. it to maintain contact with the fixed. gear 86?;as the groover i l is moved up anddown in .aniaxia-ldirection undenthe control of the groovingrwheel cam .92.. Aspiring .9 7 encircling the grooving wheel support 78.,iscompressed. between flange 93 onlthe grooving wheel collarrliiand flange 99 onithe groovingwheel support '78 to. urge thezcamfollower 9'3 upwardly into contact with the carn.surface.95 of the grooving wheel cam92. An elongated guidev rod 104 fastened: by boltsltll to the cam follower rod 94 slidably, fits withinan elongated vertical slot 1fi2,inthe outer surface ofthegrooving wheel collar 74toaxially position. groover 14 during its vertical.reciprocationaby the action. of the grooving wheel cam means. As will he explained .mo'refully in connection with the roperation of the groovingapparatus, the grooving wheeLcam 92 is shaped to'move the rotating grooving wheel .15 downwardly. within aclosure- 1 posifioned intherchuck. 39. beneath the grooverr ll during the :SIOoYing action; as the closure leis carried from the ii tadinggnositien 6 to the discharge-chute-1;2.;

6 'Diiver system: The drive power'forstarwheel' 4 andthe rotating table .8, which in turn providesxfthe" drive for the motions of the closure holders7 andthe grooving means 14, is provided by electric drive motor' 104 mounted in a convenient position at the 'base of the machine. A vertical drive'shaft' 29'iscoupled to the drive motor through a right-angle speed reducer'106; The upper end of drive shaft 29 is rotatably' mounted in bearings 107 in drive housing 108. The gear 28 splined to the upper end of drive shaft 29 connects the drive shaft 29 to the ring gear 25 on the rotating table 8 and also connects drive shaft 29 to the star wheel" 4 through a step-down gear 'train109. The ring gear 25 'onrotatingtable 8 is fastened to the edge of the table 7" by suitable bolts 26 so that rotation of the drive shaft 29- turns the rotating table 8 on bearing 22 about the verticalshaft 10. As more fully described above, the rotation of rotating table 8 also revolves the interconnected groover support 13 and the chucks 30 and the grooving wheels 15. The step-down gear train 28 comprises gear 110 which meshes with gear 28 on drive shaft 29 and which is coupled to drive shaft 111 of the star wheel 4 through the step-down gear train 112, 113, 114, 115, 116; 117. The step-down ratio of gear train 109 is fixed so that the star wheel 4 revolves at the same rate as the rotated table 8 and the relative positions of the star wheel 4'and the rotating table 8 are adjusted so that the closure retaining pockets 118 of the star wheel 4 are moved into registry with the closure retaining pockets 9 in the closure holders 7 at the closure loading position 6 (Fig. 3). A hand wheel 119is provided on drive shaft 29 to allow for trial operations during the adjustment of the machine;

Operation:

- wheel 4 is synchronized with therotating table 8 so that each pocket 118 of the star wheel 4 presents a closure 1 to a closure holder 7 on therotating table 8.. The closure 1 drops from the'pocket 118 of the star wheel'4 into a pocket 9 in a rotatingchuck 30 in the closure holder 7.

The rotating table S'carries the closure in the closure holder 7 in a circular path between the loading position 6 and a discharge chute 12; During the interval between the loading of the closure 1 into the closure holder 7 and the. discharge: of the:closure 1 at the chute 12, the groovers 14 perform the grooving action on the closure gaskets.

Theoperation of thegroovers 14and the closure holder 7 to form the gasket groove in the closure 1 as the closure 1 is carried by the rotating table Sbetween the loading point 6 and discharge chute 12 is shown in Figs. 1148. Each of the eight. figures indicates the position of a groover 14 and its'associated closure holder 7 at one of the eight closure holder positions shown in Fig. 3 which are designated by the letters A through H;

Fig. 11 corresponds to the loading position indicated at 6 and labeled A in Fig. 3. The starwheel 4'is shown delivering a closure 1 to theehuck 30 of a closure holder 7. The closure seat is in itsllowerposition-within chuck 30, providing a pocket 9 inthe upper-portion of the chuck 30 to accommodate theclosure. 1. Theposition' of the closure seat 60 is controlled by the cam 62 and the cooperating cam follower 63'mounted on the lower end of the slidablejliftrod 61. The groover 14 in Fig. 11 is shown inits raised position clear of the chuck 30 and with the cam follower 93 engaging a raised portion of the cam 92.]

Fig.112 'correspondsto the next closure holder Bnioving clockwise from the closure holder A at loading posiing wheel within the closure. v

The relative positions of groover 14 and closure holder 7 .when the closure holder 7 is at positions C in Fig. 3 is shown in Fig. 13. In this position the grooving wheel 15 remains lowered within closure 1 by the action of cam roller 93 on the grooving wheel cam 92. Closure holder 7 meanwhile has been moved radially inwardly of the rotating table 8 by cam roller 41 and its cooperating circular cam 40 so that the edge 16 of the grooving wheel 15 is moved into the closure gasket to a predetermined depth. The simultaneous and synchronized rotation of the grooving wheel 15 and the chuck 30 of the closure holder 7 cause a groove to be rolled by grooving wheel 15 around the inner surface of the closure gasket at a position determined by the vertical positioning of grooving wheel 15 by cam 92 and the horizontal positioning of the closure holder 7 and the chuck 30 by the circular closure holder positioning cam 40.

Fig. 14 corresponds to the next closure holder 7 indicated at D in Fig. 3. Cams 92 and 40 maintain the grooving wheel 15 and the chuck 30 in the same relative positions as shown in Fig. 12 so that a continued grooving action is obtained, allowing the grooving wheel 15 to pass one or more times around the closure gasket.

In Fig. 15 corresponding to position E in Fig. 3 the closure holder 7 has been moved radially outwardly of the rotating table 8 to re-center the grooving wheel 15 within the closure 1 so that its grooving flange is clear of the gasket, allowing the closure wheel 15 to be thereafter raised vertically out of'the grooved closure 1 under the control of the cam 92 as spending to position F.

Fig. 17 shows the closure holder 7 at position G as is shown in Fig. 16 corre- 'it'reaches the closure ejection position adjacent to chute the chuck 30 beneath the inclined clearing arm 126.

Fig. 18 shows the closure holder 7 at position H as it approaches the closure loading position 6 to pick up another ungrooved closure 1 from the star wheel 4. Closure seat 60 is again lowered by cam 62 to form a pocket 9 for the closure which will be delivered by star wheel 4 as shown in Fig. 11.

Closure 1, which has beenejected from the grooving apparatus into chute 12, is carried by chute 12 to suitable lubricating or vulcanizing apparatus as required.

It will be seen that the present invention provides an improved method and means adapted to form grooves in the gaskets of circular closure skirts, the grooving means is automatic in operation and is adapted to operate at high speeds to handle a relatively large number of gaskets. The operation of the grooving means is relatively simple and its design is adapted for relatively rugged construction to provide a grooving deviceot extreme reliability. I Adjustments are easily made to accommodate the grooving machine for the application of varying groove shapes and sizes in gaskets of different shapes and sizes. The machine is also adapted for use in forming gasket grooves of exact shapes with close tolerances for closures having modern gasket designs used in vacuum sealing. Q

' As various changes may be made in the forrnpconstru ction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be under- 's'tood"that all-matterherein is to be'interprtedas illus- -trativeand not in alimiting means. a

"Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A grooving machinefor rolling grooves in gaskets in circular closures comprising the combination of s rotatable' closure holder, a grooving wheel rotatably mounted adjacent to said closure holder having a circular grooving flange,- a movable mounting for said grooving wheel adapted to move said grooving wheel axially into a closure held in said closure holder, a movable mounting for said closure holding means adapted to move the closure gasket of the closure in the closure holder radially against the grooving flange of said grooving wheel when saidgrooving wheel is in the closure, and drive means operatively connected to said grooving wheel and to said closure'holder and adapted to rotate said grooving :wheel and said closure holder in synchronisrn whereby said grooving flange rolls a groove in the closure gasket. 1

2. A grooving machine for rolling annular grooves in annular gaskets on closure skirts comprising the combination of a rotatable closure holder having a closure containing pocket adapted to hold a closure gasket side out, a grooving wheel rotatably mounted opposite to said closure holder pocket having a radially directed annular grooving flange, a movable mounting for said grooving wheel adapted to move it'within the closure with the grooving flange adjacent the closure skirt gasket, a movablemounting 'for said closure holder adapted to move the closure gasket against the grooving flange of the grooving wheel, drive means operatively connected to said grooving wheel and said closure holder adapted to rotate them' in synchronism whereby said grooving l flange rolls an'annular groove in the closure skirt gasket when moved thereagainst;

3. A grooving machine for rolling grooves in "closure gaskets comprising the combination of a rotatable table mounted for rotation about a fixed shaft, a;plurality' of rotatable closure holders mounted on said rotatable table,

a groover support rotatably mounted on the fixed'shaf t above said rotatable table and coupled thereto to rotate therewith, a plurality of groovers mounted 'on-said groover support, each one adjacent one of the rotatable closure holders, a rotatable grooving wheel reciprocally mounted in each of said groovers for reciprocation toward and I away from said closure holders, said closure holder's having a radially reciprocable mounting on said rotating table, a first drive means to rotate said rotatable table and said connected groover support about the fixed shaft, a second drive means operatively coupled to each of said grooving wheelsto rotate said grooving wheels, a third drive means operatively coupled to each of said closure holders to rotate them in synchronism with said grooving wheels, a first cam system engaging said grooving wheel to move said grooving wheel intothe closure in one of said closure holders during a portion of a turn of the rotatable table about the fixed "shaft, and a second cam system. engaging said closure holders to move them radially during a portion of the time that said grooving wheel is moved into the closure by said first cam system whereby said rotating grooving wheel is brought into rolling contact with the gasket, of the closure to roll a groove therein.

4. The grooving machine as claimed in claim 3 in which said second drive means comprises a first gear concentrically mounted on said fixed shaft and a second gear on each of said grooving wheels engaging said first gear and rotated thereby as said table rotates about shaft whereby said grooving wheels and said closure holders rotate in synchronism.

5. A grooving machine for grooving gaskets in circular closures comprising the combination of a horizontal rotatable table mounted for rotation about a vertical shaft, a plurality of rotatable closure holders mounted on said rotatable table, a groover support rotatably mounted on the vertical shaft above said rotatable table and coupled thereto to rotate therewith and having a plurality of groovers thereon, each one mounted above one of the rotatable closure holders, a rotatable grooving wheel reciprocally mounted in each of said groovers for vertical reciprocation toward and away from said closure holders, said closure holders having a radially reciprocable mounting on said rotating table, a first drive means to rotate said horizontal rotatable table and said connected groover support about the vertical shaft, a second drive means operatively coupled to each of said grooving wheels to rotate said grooving wheels, a third drive means operatively connecting said closure holders with said grooving wheels to rotate them in synchronism with said grooving wheels with said grooving wheels, a first cam system engaging said grooving wheel to lower it adjacent to said closure holder whereby it enters closures in one of said closure holders during a portion of a turn of the rotatable table about the vertical shaft, a second cam system engaging said closure holders to move them radially during a portion of the time that said grooving wheel is lowered by said first cam whereby said rotating grooving wheel is brought into rolling contact with the gasket of a closure being rotated by said one closure holder to roll a groove therein.

6. A grooving machine for grooving gaskets in circular closures comprising the combination of a horizontal rotatable table mounted for rotation about a vertical shaft, a plurality of rotatable closure holders mounted on said rotatable table, a closure delivery means adjacent to said rotatable table and operatively synchronized therewith to deliver a closure to each of said closure holders as said rotatable table moves the closure holders past said closure delivery means, a groover support rotatably mounted on the vertical shaft above said rotatable table and coupled thereto to rotate therewith and having a plurality of groovers thereon, each of said grooves being mounted above one of the rotatable closure holders, a rotatable grooving wheel reciprocally mounted in each of said groovers for vertical reciprocation toward and away from said closure holders, said closure holders having a radially reciprocable mounting on said rotating table, a first drive means to rotate said horizontal rotatable table and said connected groover support about the vertical shaft, a second drive means operatively coupled to each of said grooving wheels to rotate said grooving wheels, a third drive means operatively connecting said closure holders to said grooving wheels to rotate them in synchronisrn, a first cam system engaging said grooving wheel to lower it adjacent to said closure holder whereby it enters closures in one of said closure holders during a portion of a turn of the rotatable table about the vertical shaft, a second cam system engaging said closure holders to move them radially during a portion of the time that said grooving wheel is lowered by said first cam system whereby said rotating grooving wheel is brought into rolling contact with the gasket of a closure being rotated by said one closure holder to roll a groove therein.

7. The grooving machine as claimed in claim 6 in which said second drive means comprises a first gear fixedly and concentrically mounted on said vertical shaft and a second gear mounted on each of said groovers and engaging said first gear whereby rotation of said groover supports about said vertical shaft rotates said second gears, and said third drive means comprises a third gear fixedly mounted concentrically of said vertical shaft and engaging a fourth gear mounted on eachof said closure holders whereby rotation of said closure holders about said vertical shaft rotates said fourth gears in synchronism with said second gears.

8. A grooving machine for rolling grooves in gaskets in circular closures comprising the combination of rotatable closure holder means, grooving wheel means rotatably mounted adjacent to said closure holder means having a circular grooving flange, mechanism operatively connected to said grooving wheel means and said closure holding means for moving them first axially and then radially relative to each other with a closure having a gasket held in said closure holder means, and drive means operatively connected to said grooving wheel means and to said closure holderrneans and adapted to rotate said grooving wheel means and said closure holder means in synchronism whereby said grooving flange rolls a groove in the closure gasket.

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